say YES to yourself! | Midlife Reinvention: Real Stories, Bold Moves

Wendy Harrop

Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.  This podcast is for you if you're asking: 1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife? 2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest? 3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s? 4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change? 5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife? 6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first? 7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout? 8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife? 9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself? 10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned? Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy. Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife. Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology. Your best chapter starts now.

  1. 1d ago

    Lead With Love: How to Show Up Well in Every Role | Jan Goss

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Jan Goss, executive consultant, bestselling author, and founder of Show Up Well Consulting. Jan teaches a comprehensive framework for showing up as your whole, aligned self—not just at work, but at home, in relationships, and in every role you hold. She's spent decades building businesses, raising foster children, and discovering that true success isn't about shiny exteriors. It's about alignment, wholeness, and leading with love. They explore: Why self-love and alignment are the foundation for showing up well everywhereHow love brings cohesion, and the two-degree shifts that help you move toward itWhat it means to show up whole as a parent, partner, executive, and human beingJan's philosophy is simple but radical: all of you is delicious, including the parts you'd rather hide. She talks about facing fear with compassion, making tiny shifts toward alignment, and discovering that love is a universal protocol that works in the boardroom and the bedroom, in parenting and in marriage. The roadblocks are comparison and fear, but the tools are practical: self-discovery and the willingness to show up as yourself, fully aligned, in every relationship that matters. Connect with Jan: Get her book, Bedroom Etiquette: How to Show Up Well Behind Closed Doors: amazon.com/Bedroom-Etiquette-Behind-Closed-Doors/dp/B0DXV7W8S1?tag=syty-20 ShowUpWell.com Instagram: instagram.com/showupwell LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/showupwell Referenced in this Episode: A Course in Miracles Links: amazon.com/Course-Miracles-Combined-Quality/dp/1883360242?tag=syty-20 marianne.com/acim/ apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    50 min
  2. 6d ago

    The IEP Team Guide: Special Education Advocacy Decoded | Karen Mayer Cunningham

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Karen Mayer Cunningham, special education advocate and author of Epic IEP, a framework that transforms the complicated federal special education law into actionable steps. After years of doing 500 IEP meetings annually, Karen realized her greatest pain in motherhood had become her biggest calling: helping families navigate special education when the system feels impossibly complicated. They explore: What it means to advocate WITH schools, not against them, and why that partnership mattersWhy children with disabilities have capacity, but they need the right intervention and support to reach equityThe scope of need: why individual advocacy alone isn't enoughKaren's approach is fundamentally collaborative: she works alongside teachers, administrators, and families because she knows they're all navigating a system that's overwhelming for everyone. Her conviction is simple: when we start seeing each other as partners working toward the same goal, that's when children actually get what they need.  Connect with Karen: Get her book, The Epic IEP: amazon.com/Epic-IEP-Educators-Advocates-Navigating/dp/1637635125?tag=syty-20 SpecialEducationAcademy.com Instagram: instagram.com/specialeducationboss ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    40 min
  3. Jun 10

    Women in Comedy: Why We Need to Listen (Not Just Speak Up) | Lynn Harris

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Lynn Harris, founder of Gold Comedy and an industry veteran who's spent her career at the intersection of entertainment and social change. After 5 years of eldercare and other demands, Lynn is saying yes to herself again by setting boundaries, scheduling creative projects, and pursuing her own work. They explore: How comedy works as a delivery system for challenging conversations and cultural shiftWhy the specificity of storytelling creates unexpected connection across differenceWhat it means to set boundaries and reclaim your creative life after burnoutLynn talks about the social contract of comedy and when you attend a show, you're required to listen to someone, even if they don't look like you or share your background. That simple act normalizes different perspectives and creates the possibility for cultural change. She's built Gold Comedy to help women and underrepresented voices succeed in comedy and entertainment, because the industry hasn't evolved enough since the 90s. Her insight is clear: it's not that women need to speak up more. It's that people need to listen. Connect with Lynn: GoldComedy.com Discount Code: GOLD20PERCENTOFF Youtube.com/GoldComedy Instagram: instagram.com/goldcomedy Referenced in this Episode: Boundary Boss by Terri Cole: amazon.com/dp/1683647688?tag=syty-20 A Course in Miracles Links: amazon.com/Course-Miracles-Combined-Quality/dp/1883360242?tag=syty-20 marianne.com/acim/ apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    40 min
  4. Jun 5

    When Coaching Tools Aren't Enough: A Working Mom's Breakthrough | Rebecca Olson

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Rebecca Olson, a working mom coach who spent 2025 in a deep dark hole. Despite having all the coaching tools and personal development strategies she knew worked, depression had her stuck. She eventually got professional help—a therapist, her doctor, and a low-dose antidepressant—and the difference has been life-changing. They explore: Why your coaching tools and personal development practices might not be enough (and why that's okay)How clarity emerges when you stop trying to figure it out aloneThe magic of following the breadcrumbs when you can't see the whole pictureRebecca talks about asking for help, receiving support in unexpected ways, and the moment the fog lifted. She's speaking openly about the stigma around antidepressants and mental health, and saying yes to herself by getting the professional help she needed. Now she's following aligned action and trusting the next logical step without needing to see the entire plan. This is a conversation about getting honest about what you need and being willing to ask for it. Connect with Rebecca: RebeccaOlsonCoaching.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebolson Instagram: instagram.com/rebeccaolsoncoach Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-and-balanced-working-moms/id1557563892 Referenced in this Episode: Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood: amazon.com/Untangled-Guiding-Teenage-Transitions-Adulthood/dp/0553393073?tag=syty-20 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    53 min
  5. Jun 3

    How Reverse Mortgages Can Fund Your Best Years (Not Just Protect Your Home) | Laura Phillips

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Laura Phillips, a reverse mortgage lender. Laura challenges the generational belief that home equity is only a safety net, and explores how reverse mortgages can actually help seniors say yes to themselves and fund the life they want to live. They explore: What reverse mortgages actually are (and why the name confuses people)How non-recourse loans protect your heirs from debtWhy shifting your mindset about equity changes everythingLaura shares real stories of how reverse mortgages have helped seniors stay in their homes longer, fund in-home care, and maintain independence without burdening their children. She talks about breaking generational patterns around debt and home ownership, and why this financial tool deserves a second look. This is a conversation about reframing what your home equity can do for you in your later years. Connect with Laura: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurawphillips Website: lauraphillips.com Phone: (303) 817-4611 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    56 min
  6. May 29

    Align Your Head, Heart, and Gut (When Life Feels Out of Sync) | Kathleen Conner

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! If something in your life or work is asking for space, you can learn more about the Creative in Residence experience at the Phineas Wright House here: phineaswrighthouse.myflodesk.com/cyekpegz8g In this episode, Wendy sits down with Kathleen Conner, coach and host of the Chasing Purpose Podcast. Kathleen spent years presenting a perfect image to the world while feeling deeply out of sync internally, until one moment of disgust became her catalyst for change. They explore: Why your vibrational baseline attracts the people and experiences around youHow to recognize when you're performing instead of being authenticThe "basket" metaphor: why women carry everyone's load and how to put it down with kindnessKathleen talks about moving from perfectionism to alignment, making small daily choices (being 1% better), and raising interdependent children instead of independent ones. She shares how breaking your own patterns is the only way your children will do things differently. This is a conversation about getting honest with yourself when your outside doesn't match your inside, and choosing alignment over image. Connect with Kathleen: Website: chasingpurpose.com Her Podcast, Chasing Purpose: w4wn.com Instagram: instagram.com/chasingpurpose_lifecoaching/ Facebook: facebook.com/share/14H2fWoKfc1/  Wendy's appearance on Chasing Purpose: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/satisfaction-its-time-to-stop-faking-it/id1870973280?i=1000751665394 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    42 min
  7. May 27

    How to Stop People Pleasing (A Somatic Coach's Approach) | Darshana Avila

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Darshana Avila, somatic experiencing practitioner and body-based trauma healer. Darshana is a recovering people pleaser who's spent years unwinding the cultural scripts we're all handed unknowingly: the ones about gender roles, perfectionism, and who we're supposed to be. They explore: Why people pleasing is rooted in cultural conditioning (and how to recognize the script you've been reading)How trauma lives in your body and healing means changing your present relationship to the pastWhy forgiveness is a beautifully selfish act that frees you from resentmentDarshana talks about softening into embodiment, surrender as a practice, and what happens when we embrace our wholeness. This is a conversation about unwinding the people-pleasing patterns we didn't know we were practicing, and what becomes possible when we soften into our bodies and choose to lay down our armor. Connect with Darshana: Website: darshanaavila.com Instagram: instagram.com/darshana_avila Deeper with Darshana Podcast: darshanaavila.com/podcast ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    52 min
  8. May 22

    How to Be Ambitious and a Great Mom (Without the Guilt) | Laurie Maddalena

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Laurie Maddalena, leadership consultant who started her business nearly two decades ago and has raised three children while building it. Laurie spent years wrestling with the question: Can I be ambitious and a great mom?  They explore: Why asking for support isn't weakness—it's healthy modeling for your childrenHow to confront the narrative that "I'm the mom so I should do it all"Why intentionality matters more than perfection when juggling multiple rolesLaurie struggled to write her book for years until her husband said, "Just go away a few nights a month and work on it." She couldn't believe he was offering. Her internal narrative was screaming: I'm the mom, I'm the person who should be doing these things. But she did it anyway, finished the book, and is still doing the work of believing she doesn't have to do it all alone. This is a conversation about leaning into support and remembering that being ambitious doesn't come at the expense of being a great mom. Connect with Laurie: Website: LaurieMaddalena.com Get her book, The Elevated Leader: https://amzn.to/49HTvLS LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauriemaddalena Instagram: instagram.com/lauriemaddalena ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    54 min
5
out of 5
90 Ratings

About

Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.  This podcast is for you if you're asking: 1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife? 2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest? 3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s? 4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change? 5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife? 6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first? 7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout? 8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife? 9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself? 10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned? Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy. Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife. Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology. Your best chapter starts now.

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